Bucket elevator with grain cleaner

ABSTRACT

A grain cleaner for a bucket elevator having a downflow grain passage opening into an upflow air passage connected to a blower. A valve is positioned in the opening so that in a first position it restricts the flow of air with the grain through the opening so that the grain can be cleaned by an airstream created by the blower and in a second position leaves the opening unrestricted so that a large volume of grain can flow freely through the grain passage and lower portion of the air passage.

United States- Patent Bryant [45] June 13, 1972 [54] BUCKET ELEVATOR WITH GRAIN 1,861,248 5/1932 Stebbins ..209/139 R CLEANER 1,792,962 2/1931 Barker.... ..209/147 X 2,204,032 6 1940 Whitl k ..209 147 X [72] Inventor: James G. Bryant, Greencastle, lnd. 0c [73] Assignee: Bryant-Puff, lnc., Coatesville, Hendricks 'f w'lflutter County Ind Assistant Examiner-Ralph J. Hill Attorney-Bames, Kisselle, Raisch & Choate [22] Filed: Nov. 14, 1969 21 Appl. No.: 876,742 [57] ABSTRACT A grain cleaner for a bucket elevator having a downflow grain passage opening into an upflow air passage connected to a lll ..209/138, 209/146 blower. A valve is positioned in the p g so hat in a first [58] Fieid 209/1 384 41 149 position it restricts the flow of air with the grain through the 4 36 37 opening so that the grain can be cleaned by an airstream created by the blower and in a second position leaves the [56] References Cited opening unrestricted so that a large volume of grain can flow UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1928 Dowdall et al ..209/147 freely through the grain passage and lower portion of the air passage.

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I IE 72 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS BUCKET ELEVATOR WITH GRAIN CLEANER This invention relates to a bucket elevator for grain having a grain cleaner mounted thereon.

A typical large grain farm would normally have equipment to dry, store, aerate and clean grain. To handle grain mechanically a grain elevator conventionally comprises a screw conveyor to move it horizontally, a bucket elevator to move it vertically and a distributor on the bucket elevator to discharge it into a receiver. A grain cleaner separate from the bucket elevator is in many instances employed because not all grain handled by the elevator requires cleaning and also because a cleaner having a capacity as great as the elevator would be extremely large, cumbersome and bulky so that it would be difficult to install at the end of the elevator. On the other hand, a conventionally constructed grain cleaner of moderate size mounted at the discharge of the elevator would unduly reduce the capacity of the elevator.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a bucket elevator-grain cleaner combination wherein the size of the grain cleaner is admirably suited for mounting at the discharge of a bucket elevator and wherein the capacity of the bucket elevator is not reduced by the grain cleaner.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a bucket elevator incorporating a grain cleaner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 showing details of construction and the flow pattern of air and grain through the cleaner.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 as viewed along the direction of arrow 3.

In FIG. 1 a portion of a generally conventional bucket elevator is illustrated in combination with a grain cleaner l2 and a distributor l4. Elevator 10 comprises two vertical ducts l6 and 18 through which the vertical runs of an endless conveyor 20 extend. Conveyor 20 includes a plurality of buckets 22 which, when the conveyor is driven, are adapted to pick up grain at a low elevation, transport it vertically and dump it into a discharge bin 24 at the upper end of the elevator. Conveyor 20 is driven by a motor 26.

As shown in FIG. 2, discharge bin 24 has an outlet opening 28 for discharging the grain into cleaner 12. Grain cleaner 12 comprises a sheet metal housing of generally rectangular shape in cross section having a pair of flat sidewalls 30, 32 (FIG. 3). A plurality of walls extend transversely between and are welded to sidewalls 30, 32 to define a plurality of passageways within the grain cleaner. one of these transversely extending walls comprises an end wall 34 which is of generally zigzag shape as shown in FIG. 2. Another of these walls comprises a baffle 36. Baffle 36 cooperates with end wall 34 to define a zigzag grain flow passageway 38 which extends from opening 28 in discharge bin 24 downwardly to an outlet 40 directly above an inlet 42 to manifold 44 of distributor 14. At one end of sidewalls 30, 32 there is mounted on the cleaner a blower 46, the housing of which comprises a pair of sidewalls 48, 50. Sidewall 48 is welded to the ends of walls 30, 32. A peripherally extending wall 52 completes the housing of the blower and is retained in position by a plurality of bolts 54 which extend transversely through walls 48 and 50. An impeller 56 within the housing of blower 46 is mounted on the shaft of a motor 58 mounted on the blower housing by a suitable support 60. The outlet 62 of blower 46 connects with a downwardly extending duct 64. The inlet of blower 46 comprises an opening 66 in wall 48 at the eye of impeller 56. Opening 66 communicates with an air passageway 68 within the housing of cleaner I2 defined by a pair of walls or bafiles 70, 72 which extend between and are welded at the opposite edges to the inner faces of walls 30, 32. Wall 72 extending downwardly to define one side of opening 40. Wall 70 terminates substantially above opening 40 and cooperates with the inclined portion 74 of wall 34 to form a discharge opening 76 for grain passageway 38.

A valve plate 78 is mounted as at 80 in passageway 38 and is movable between the solid and broken line positions illustrated in FIG. 2. In the broken line position shown in FIG. 2 valve 78 closes air passageway 68 and provides the discharge opening 76 with its maximum size. When valve 78 is in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 it cooperates with portion 74 of wall 34 to reduce the size of opening 76 to that designated 76' which, it will be observed, is substantially smaller than any portion of grain flow passageway 38 including its outlet 40. As a practical matter, opening 76' is sized slightly larger than that required to accommodate a predetermined maximum rate grain flow through passageway 38. The maximum rate of grain flow is predetermined in relation to the capacity of blower 46 for cleaning the grain. A slight clearance or gap between the lower edge of valve 78 and the flowing grain is provided to assure that the grain flow does not become restricted by the valve thereby causing the grain to back up in passage 38 and overflow discharge bin 24. However, this clearance and hence the size of opening 76' should be no larger than necessary because the air passing from passageway 38 through the gap and into blower 46 decreases the efficiency and capacity of the cleaner since it does not impinge on and thereby clean the grain. Thus, opening 76' should be large enough so that the grain does not back up into and overflow bin 46 and small enough so that an excess amount of air does not pass with the grain through passage 38 and into blower 46.

Air enters into passageway 68 through openings 82 and 84 adjacent to the upper portion of inlet 42 of manifold 44. Two plates 86 each overlapping and spaced from the lower end of passageway 68 extend between and are attached to walls30, 32. Plates 86 cooperate with walls 30, 32 and inlet 42 to provide a funnel structure which receives: grain discharged from outlet 40 while allowing air to enter passageway 68 from openings 82, 84 through the gap between the outlet and the funnel structure. Plates 88 and 90 positioned above both openings 82, 84 and the funnel structure shield it from rain and falling debris so that the grain will not be contaminated. Grain entering manifold 44 is directed by appropriate conventional mechanism therein into outlet ducts 92 connected to the manifold outlets.

In operation, motor 26 is energized which moves buckets 22 up through duct 16, around the drum where they dump grain into discharge bin 24 and down through duct 18 to scoop up another load of grain. If the grain is to be cleaned, valve 78 is moved to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 so that opening 76 is restricted to 76'. Motor 58 is energized which rotates impeller 56 causing air to flow upwardly through passage 68 in the direction of arrows past restricted opening 76'. As grain flows from bin 24 down through passage 38 and passes through restricted opening 76', it is impinged on by the upwardly moving airstream which separates any fine lightweight particles of grain or other material from the grain and carries the fine particles upward through passage 68 and into the housing of blower 46. The heavier grain flows due to gravity out through outlet 40 and into distributor I4. The fine particles passing into the housing of blower 46 are carried by the discharged air through outlet 62 and duct 64.

If it is desired to utilize the maximum capacity of bucket elevator 10 and distributor 14 to handle the maximum possible volume of grain per unit of time, blower motor 58 is deenergized and valve 78 is moved to the position shown in phantom line in FIG. 2. This leaves opening 76 unrestricted so that the maximum volume of grain for which the elevator is designed can pass through passage 38, outlet 40, and thence into distributor 14 through inlet 42. Since cleaner 12 has a much smaller grain capacity than elevator 10, it is necessary when using the cleaner to limit and control the amount of grain dumped into bin 24 so that it does not overflow. This can be effected by decreasing the rate of flow of grain into the inlet of bucket elevator 10 or reducing the speed of travel of buckets 22. For example, in one embodiment of this invention the bucket elevator and distributor was designed to handle 4,000 bushels per hour of grain with an opening 76 of l2.by 5

A inches. To clean the grain its flow into the inlet or boot of the bucket elevator was limited to 400 bushels per hour and opening 76 restricted by valve 78 to 12 by l V4 inches. When the grain was being cleaned at the rate of 400 bushels per hour with valve 78 in the solid line position shown in FIG. 2, there was a slight clearance of approximately one-fourth of an inch between the lower edge of valve 78 and the flowing grain. This clearance may vary between approximately one-half to onesixteenth of an inch depending on the type of grain, its moisture content, the amount of fine particles, the instantaneous rate of flow at opening 76, etc.

This cleaner provides a compact and lightweight unit for mounting on the discharge bin of a bucket elevator which allows the elevator to be readily switched from passing a large volume of grain to cleaning a smaller volume of grain. The use of a single flipper valve simplifies and decreases the amount of duct work required by the cleaner and allows a portion of the duct work to be used for both the passing and cleaning functions which reduces the cost of manufacture of the device and provides a unit which is relatively service and maintenance free. The use of a cleaner which can both clean and pass grain just before the distribution manifold in a bucket conveyor distribution system increases the flexibility and usefulness of and provides an extremely practical grain handling system for farm grainery operations.

I claim:

1. in combination, a generally vertical grain elevator having a discharge bin at its upper end and means for discharging grain into said discharge bin at a variable rate, said discharge bin having an outlet, a grain cleaning device mounted on said elevator adjacent said upper end thereof, said grain cleaning device having a downwardly extending grain flow passageway with an upper end adapted to receive grain from said discharge bin outlet and an outlet opening at its lower end for discharging grain therefrom, said grain flow passageway having a cross section adjacent said outlet opening sized to accommodate a predetermined relatively large flow of grain therethrough, a blower mounted on said elevator and having an air inlet passageway, said air inlet passageway extending to and connected with said grain flow passageway closely adjacent said outlet opening, a valve in said grain flow passageway located upstream of said outlet opening and movable from a first position wherein said grain flow passageway is substantially unobstructed by the valve to accommodate said relatively large flow and to a second position wherein said valve reduces the effective size of said grain flow passageway to accommodate a relatively smaller flow of grain while preventing an excess flow of air from said upper end of said grain flow passageway to said blower, means forming a grain discharge means adjacent to and adapted to receive grain from said outlet opening of said grain flow passageway, and means forming an air inlet opening to said air inlet passageway, said air inlet opening being downstream of the grain ilow past and closely adjacent said connection of said air inlet passageway with said grain flow passageway and also closely adjacent said outlet opening of said grain flow passageway, whereby a relatively large flow of grain through said elevator is discharged from said discharge means by moving said valve to said first position and a relatively small flow of grain through said elevator is cleaned and then discharged from said discharge means by moving said valve to said second position so that an airstream through said outlet of said grain flow passageway and into the air inlet passageway impinges on said small flow of grain and removes fine lightweight particles therefrom, said valve comprising a pivotally mounted plate which in said first position also at least substantially closes said air inlet passageway and in said second position also substantially opens said air inlet passageway and provides a clearance of less than one-half of an inch between grain flowing at said relatively smaller rate and said valve when in said second position with an air stream impinging on the grain.

2. In combination, a generally vertical grain elevator having a discharge bin at its up er end and means for discharging grain into said discharge in at a variable rate, said discharge bin having an outlet, a grain cleaning device mounted on said elevator adjacent said upper end thereof, said grain cleaning device having a downwardly extending grain flow passageway with an upper end adapted to receive grain from said discharge bin outlet and an outlet opening at its lower end for discharging grain therefrom, said grain flow passageway having a cross section adjacent said outlet opening sized to accommodate a predetermined relatively large flow of grain therethrough, a blower mounted on said elevator and having an air inlet passageway, said air inlet passageway extending to and connected with said grain flow passageway closely adjacent said outlet opening, a valve pivotally mounted adjacent the intersection of said grain flow passageway and said air inlet passageway, said valve being pivotable from a first position wherein the grain flow passageway is substantially unobstructed to permit a relatively large flow of grain thereto and wherein the air inlet passageway is substantially completely closed to a second position wherein the effective size of the grain flow passageway is substantially reduced to accommodate a relatively smaller grain flow and prevent an excess flow of air from the upper end of the grain flow passageway to said blower, said valve when in said second position leaving said air inlet passageway substantially unobstructed to permit a maximum flow of air to the blower, means forming a grain discharge means adjacent to and adapted to receive grain from said outlet opening of said grain flow passageway, and means forming an air inlet opening to said air inlet passageway, said air inlet opening being downstream of the grain flow past and closely adjacent said connection of said air inlet passageway with said grain flow passageway and also closely adjacent said outlet opening of said grain flow passageway, whereby a relatively large flow of grain through said elevator is discharged from said discharge means by moving said valve to said first position and a relatively small flow of grain through said elevator is cleaned and then discharged from said discharge means by moving said valve to said second position so that an airstream through said outlet of said grain flow passageway and into the air inlet passageway impinges on said small flow of grain and removes fine lightweight particles therefrom.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said grain flow passageway extends generally vertically downward below said connection with said air inlet passageway and said grain discharge means comprises a funnel having at least one side wall, said funnel underlying said outlet opening, said side wall circumscribing, generally vertically lapping, and being generally horizontally spaced from said outlet opening of said grain flow passageway such that air can enter into said outlet opening of said grain flow passageway through said space between said grain flow passageway and said side wall of said funnel.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which the housing of said blower is fixed on a sidewall of said grain cleaning device.

5. The combination of claim 2 in which said air inlet passageway is connected to said blower at a level below said discharge bin and closely adjacent said connection of said grain flow passageway and said air inlet passageway. 

1. In combination, a generally vertical grain elevator having a discharge bin at its upper end and means for discharging grain into said discharge bin at a variable rate, said discharge bin having an outlet, a grain cleaning device mounted on said elevator adjacent said upper end thereof, said grain cleaning device having a downwardly extending grain flow passageway with an upper end adapted to receive grain from said discharge bin outlet and an outlet opening at its lower end for discharging grain therefrom, said grain flow passageway having a cross section adjacent said outlet opening sized to accommodate a predetermined relatively large flow of grain therethrough, a blower mounted on said elevator and having an air inlet passaGeway, said air inlet passageway extending to and connected with said grain flow passageway closely adjacent said outlet opening, a valve in said grain flow passageway located upstream of said outlet opening and movable from a first position wherein said grain flow passageway is substantially unobstructed by the valve to accommodate said relatively large flow and to a second position wherein said valve reduces the effective size of said grain flow passageway to accommodate a relatively smaller flow of grain while preventing an excess flow of air from said upper end of said grain flow passageway to said blower, means forming a grain discharge means adjacent to and adapted to receive grain from said outlet opening of said grain flow passageway, and means forming an air inlet opening to said air inlet passageway, said air inlet opening being downstream of the grain flow past and closely adjacent said connection of said air inlet passageway with said grain flow passageway and also closely adjacent said outlet opening of said grain flow passageway, whereby a relatively large flow of grain through said elevator is discharged from said discharge means by moving said valve to said first position and a relatively small flow of grain through said elevator is cleaned and then discharged from said discharge means by moving said valve to said second position so that an airstream through said outlet of said grain flow passageway and into the air inlet passageway impinges on said small flow of grain and removes fine lightweight particles therefrom, said valve comprising a pivotally mounted plate which in said first position also at least substantially closes said air inlet passageway and in said second position also substantially opens said air inlet passageway and provides a clearance of less than one-half of an inch between grain flowing at said relatively smaller rate and said valve when in said second position with an air stream impinging on the grain.
 2. In combination, a generally vertical grain elevator having a discharge bin at its upper end and means for discharging grain into said discharge bin at a variable rate, said discharge bin having an outlet, a grain cleaning device mounted on said elevator adjacent said upper end thereof, said grain cleaning device having a downwardly extending grain flow passageway with an upper end adapted to receive grain from said discharge bin outlet and an outlet opening at its lower end for discharging grain therefrom, said grain flow passageway having a cross section adjacent said outlet opening sized to accommodate a predetermined relatively large flow of grain therethrough, a blower mounted on said elevator and having an air inlet passageway, said air inlet passageway extending to and connected with said grain flow passageway closely adjacent said outlet opening, a valve pivotally mounted adjacent the intersection of said grain flow passageway and said air inlet passageway, said valve being pivotable from a first position wherein the grain flow passageway is substantially unobstructed to permit a relatively large flow of grain thereto and wherein the air inlet passageway is substantially completely closed to a second position wherein the effective size of the grain flow passageway is substantially reduced to accommodate a relatively smaller grain flow and prevent an excess flow of air from the upper end of the grain flow passageway to said blower, said valve when in said second position leaving said air inlet passageway substantially unobstructed to permit a maximum flow of air to the blower, means forming a grain discharge means adjacent to and adapted to receive grain from said outlet opening of said grain flow passageway, and means forming an air inlet opening to said air inlet passageway, said air inlet opening being downstream of the grain flow past and closely adjacent said connection of said air inlet passageway with said grain flow passageway and also closely adjacent said outlet opening of said grain flow passageway, whereby a relatIvely large flow of grain through said elevator is discharged from said discharge means by moving said valve to said first position and a relatively small flow of grain through said elevator is cleaned and then discharged from said discharge means by moving said valve to said second position so that an airstream through said outlet of said grain flow passageway and into the air inlet passageway impinges on said small flow of grain and removes fine lightweight particles therefrom.
 3. The combination of claim 2 in which said grain flow passageway extends generally vertically downward below said connection with said air inlet passageway and said grain discharge means comprises a funnel having at least one side wall, said funnel underlying said outlet opening, said side wall circumscribing, generally vertically lapping, and being generally horizontally spaced from said outlet opening of said grain flow passageway such that air can enter into said outlet opening of said grain flow passageway through said space between said grain flow passageway and said side wall of said funnel.
 4. The combination of claim 3 in which the housing of said blower is fixed on a sidewall of said grain cleaning device.
 5. The combination of claim 2 in which said air inlet passageway is connected to said blower at a level below said discharge bin and closely adjacent said connection of said grain flow passageway and said air inlet passageway. 